ICO Executive Director Robério Oliveria Silva dies aged 53

The Executive Director of the International Coffee Organisation (ICO), Robério Oliveria Silva has died at the age of 53 on 30 December 2016 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Silva joined the ICO in 2011 as the Executive Director and was best known for his work to improve cooperation between producer and consumer nations in order to achieve a more sustainable future for the coffee industry. The organisation expressed its condolences in a statement saying, ‘Mr. Silva’s dedication to the coffee community was exceptional and he will be deeply missed. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family at this sad time.’

Prior to taking up his position at the ICO, Silva’s 25 years of experience spanned across both the public and private sectors including his tenure as Director of the Coffee Department in the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply; Commodities Secretary in the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade; Executive Secretary of the Brazilian Chamber of Foreign Trade (CAMEX); Secretary‑General of the Association of Coffee Producing Countries; and Secretary‑General of the Brazilian Federation of Coffee Exporters.